MONTPELIER — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders says a new report shows that the average student loan debt of college students in Vermont is higher than the amount in most other states.

Sanders says only six other states had higher average student loan debt amounts.

The independent senator says the report released from the Joint Economic Committee on Tuesday shows that 63 percent of college students in Vermont have student loans and the average balance is $28,860.

Sanders says the report shows the need for legislation to prevent the doubling of interest rates to 6.8 percent next month on some Stafford student loans.